CUPRA KIRO’s Post

How roads are made for cars, and how they discourage other (safer, healthier, and more sustainable) modes of transport such as walking and cycling. A message I have been repeating very often, here in a more engaging way.

From the thrill of every Spartan race to the relentless training in between, it's been a journey of grit, growth, and pushing past limits. 💪 This new blog post dives into the challenges of different race distances, overcoming obstacles (physical and mental), and what’s next in my journey with Body by Belanger.

Greatness is in the details.

*Crowbarring in life lessons as an excuse to post skateboard content on LinkedIn* 😄 Andy Anderson is the most creative and innovative force in current skateboarding. What's best about him? He takes classic, old-skool (and out-of-fashion) skateboarding tricks and applies them with his unique style and exceptional talent to modern tastes. In the credits to 'Crazy Wisdom', he cites every individual responsible for developing the tricks he performs. Learning from the past, applying for today. He's done this being totally authentic; known for always wearing his helmet, he's stayed true to himself despite what everyone else thought, said, or was doing. His motto? "Protect your brain, bro." My kind of creative maverick. 🛹 #Skateboarding #Authenticity #Resilience #SafetyFirst #Inspiration #AndyAnderson #CreativeInnovation https://lnkd.in/efa4hT7a

As an avid cyclist (for all purposes, not just leisure), I sometimes look at videos by the (UK based) Global Cycling Network. Typically, the videos are about the various facets of cycling as a sport and leisure pursuit, but it would appear they are moving into a broader advocacy around not just cycling, but urban planning and city building. This recent video is a great introduction to how western/global culture has become motornormative, with the use of cars being the default mode of travel and everything else secondary. This is illustrated through examples of how pedestrians have to wait for permission to cross roads, road geometric design to ease the movement of cars, media reporting generally absolving drivers (accidents, not crashes), how cycle lanes are simply stopped where there is construction (forcing cyclists to use the traffic lanes) and a parking free-for-all. The highlight in the video is where people think bikes kill more pedestrians than people (2 vs 500 / year), essentially anything to excuse cars. Here in Toronto (or Caronto to some people), bike lane infringements are a fact of the cyclists life. Just last week, a construction bin was (without permit) put in the cycle lane on Bloor, forcing cyclists into the traffic lane, with the result that a 24-year old woman was fatally struck and killed by a truck. Toronto has already seen 5 cyclists deaths in 2024, a record already for any year since at least 2005 (on-line Toronto police data starts at 2006). While progress is being made in rebalancing the uses of urban space that belongs to ALL users, it is evident Toronto still has a long way to go.

Day 12: Don’t Miss the Journey “Sometimes, we’re so focused on the finish line that we forget to appreciate the steps it takes to get there.” - Kia Ruun Farunjima Day 12, and today I’m taking a step back to think about the journey itself. In our drive to reach the next goal, the next milestone, or the finish line, it’s easy to miss the moments that make the journey worthwhile. But here’s the truth: the journey is where the real growth happens. It’s in the challenges we overcome, the small victories along the way, and even the setbacks that make us stronger. The finish line might be the goal, but every step leading up to it is what shapes us. Today, I’m focusing on embracing where I am right now. The journey might be unpredictable, sometimes messy, but it’s ours to experience fully. Here’s to appreciating each step, every lesson, and all the moments that make the journey meaningful. #30DaysOfInspiration #EnjoyTheJourney #GrowthMindset #PresentMoment #AppreciateTheProcess